NBA Draft Prospect Stats - Bam Adebayo - Kentucky Wildcats

Scouting Report

The man more commonly called "Bam" could hear his name announced anywhere from the middle of the first round to early in the second. Views differ on whether Adebayo will be a successful pro because after spending only one season at Kentucky, he remains very unpolished but with great physical tools. His offensive game in college was limited greatly to dunks off the pick-and-roll, lobs on the break and putbacks. When he would try to do more, Adebayo could run into trouble because his moves in the post or driving the lane are pretty much limited to powering his way to the basket. That's something that won't be as easy to do against bigger, stronger bodies in the NBA. His outside shot is nearly non-existent, as he's unable to regularly hit from mid-range let alone near the 3-point line, and he is a mediocre free-throw shooter (65.3 percent). It's on defense where scouts find him most enticing because of his strength, chiseled frame, 7-foot-3 wingspan and terrific quickness for a big man. Yet, it's on the defensive end where he didn't always seem to be engaged while at Kentucky. Per 40 minutes, Adebayo didn't even rank among the top 15 in the SEC in blocks or defensive rebounds. While not regularly keen to block out, he is more aggressive on the glass when on offense - his 3.1 offensive boards per game ranked second in the SEC. Adebayo did compile six double-doubles in his final 11 games as his minutes increased, and he ended up third on the Wildcats with an average of 13.0 points after being the only one to start all 38 games. If the effort is there regularly, the former McDonald's All-American could step in right away as a defensive force because of his ability to guard multiple positions. If his outside shot and overall offensive game develop, Adebayo could be a starting center for many years to come.